Balancing Growth with Small-town Values
1. What has been your most significant accomplishment in service to Georgetown?
My experience of 40-plus years of community service and the past 5 years of leadership positions in Sun City and Georgetown. I pride myself in my ethics, and conservative and responsive leadership.
2. What differentiates you from the other candidate and what makes you a good representative for Georgetown?
Other than the need to continue to secure future water rights and to balance our growth, I plan to be more responsive to the residents of my district. There has been a lack of communication in the past and I plan to publish a regular newsletter, host town forums on specific topics and have a monthly coffee at Mulligan’s for residents to pop in to get their questions answered.
3. What key issues will be your main focus, and why are they important to you?
Balancing growth in a property rights state and maintaining our small-town charm is very difficult. Growth is positive if done with thoughtful planning and the input from our citizens. There is no magic bullet to solve our growth issues but together we can work to come to an acceptable solution.
4. What is the biggest challenge facing Georgetown and what solutions do you propose?
Water, growth, infrastructure and safety. Regarding water, we continue to find new sources and promote conservation. Growth will require cooperation from all parties, residents, developers and the City to constantly monitor the effect. Infrastructure is a long-term issue that Georgetown is resolving but it is very difficult to keep up with our unbelievable growth – no city could have predicted this rapid growth. I believe in funding our safety net as a priority.
5. Where do you see Georgetown in ten years?
I see Georgetown continuing to be an attractive place to live while maintaining its small-town charm – we will become the model for other cities in how to handle growth and quality of life.
Joe was born in Trieste, Italy and is a graduate of Killeen (Texas) High School and the University of Texas. He and his wife Mary have a son, Joshua, and a daughter-in-law, Meagen, who both live in Georgetown. Joe worked as a district executive, exploring director, and finance director for Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) before going into the healthcare fundraising field. His last assignment was as president of a foundation and hospital CEO at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, California.
JOE ORSAK is on the ballot for CITY COUNCIL District 3 • ELECTION DAY IS May 3, 2025